For Immediate Release
April 4, 2009
1st
District Towns to Receive over $50 Million of Emergency Education Funding from
ARRA
Hartford, CT- The U.S Department of Education has announced emergency
education funding has been released to help save jobs among our local teachers,
maintain essential programs for low-income students and students with
disabilities, and protect harmful cuts to education by stabilizing state and
local budgets. The funding is part of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed by Congress to begin our economic recovery. ARRA
will provide educational funding in the Title I and IDEA programs which helps
low-income and students with disabilities.
U.S. Congressman John B. Larson
(CT-01), Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, is pleased to report the First
Congressional District will receive approximately $20 million in additional
Title I funding and $30 million in IDEA funding. In addition, the State of
Connecticut will receive approximately $541 million from the state
stabilization fund that will be used to stabilize state and local
budgets.
“Our current economic crisis is
taking a toll on our children. With teachers forced to the unemployment
lines and educational funding drastically cut due to state and municipal
budgets, the future of our youth is at stake. This funding will save hundreds
of teaching jobs and improve quality of education.”
“I am especially proud that
additional funding is being allocated for the IDEA program. Every child in our
nation deserves to receive a quality education”. The IDEA program provides funding to states for the
education of children with disabilities. Since IDEA became law in
1975, the federal government has underfunded the program, thus forcing
local municipalities to pick up the tab. Congressman Larson has
sponsored the Full Funding for IDEA Now Act that would require the federal
government to fully fund its share of the IDEA program.
The Department of Education also
released applications and guidelines to states and municipalities for the Title
I, IDEA and state stabilization programs. The Title I and IDEA funding
will be distributed in two rounds, with the first round of funding available
this week. The first round of funding for the state stabilization program will
be available to states within two weeks of an application’s approval.
“I applaud the Department of
Education for understanding the importance of quickly releasing this
funding. Only bold action will help our state and our nation climb out of
this cavernous economic hole.”
During the upcoming district work,
Congressman Larson will focus on the economic recovery. He will host a meeting
with the Chief Elected Officials and school superintendents of the cities and
towns within the First Congressional District. The meeting will allow
Congressman Larson to hear feedback from the perspective of our local leaders
on how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will advance our schools and
help alleviate local budget burdens.
“This week, I will meet with
the mayors, first selectman, and school superintendents of the 1st
District to further discuss how the stimulus funding will improve our
educational system and assist in balancing their local budgets.”
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